Meme, On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist, October 22, 2011

Tara

Another week and another edition of On My Wishlist! I always seem to have a ton of books on my wishlist. But this week I’m going to be spotlighting Stephen King’s latest:

 

  On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed. What if you could change it back? Stephen King’s heart-stoppingly dramatic new novel is about a man who travels back in time to prevent the JFK assassination – a thousand page tour de force.

Following his massively successful novel Under the Dome, King sweeps readers back in time to another moment – a real life moment – when everything went wrong: the JFK assassination. And he introduces readers to a character who has the power to change the course of history.

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students – a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane – and insanely possible – mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life – a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time. A tribute to a simpler era and a devastating exercise in escalating suspense, 11/22/63 is Stephen King at his epic best.

Sunday Wrap-Up

Just been one of those weeks….

Tara

You know, where you’ve done absolutely nothing but lay in bed and moan and complain.

No reading. No laundry. No cleaning. No cooking. Nothing. I’ve been useless this whole past week.

And unfortunately, it’s not likely to let up as it’s not exactly an illness that will be cured instantly. It could end tomorrow or it could be another, um…. 5-7 weeks. Read into that as you will 🙂 But for a small hint: I have a doctor appointment tomorrow that I’m actually looking forward to! And that’s all I’m going to say on this since it’s incredibly early, but I’m just so darned excited!

So what have I been doing? Watching baseball! We are huge Cardinals fans so it’s been lots of fun!! My dad’s company buys season tickets every year, so I’m really hoping to be able to go to a World Series game! My husband and I were actually at the game they won the World Series in 2006 – talk about an awesome experience! I would love to be able to go to another World Series!! Although I’m not sure I want to face the Rangers, they’re pretty dang good this year.

Honestly, I didn’t even receive a single solitary book in the mail this past week, so you won’t be seeing a Mailbox Monday post tomorrow. However, my mailbox will soon be bulging because I’ve got like four Paperbackswap Box-of-Books trades going right now. *Embarrassing* because I have no self-control! Although, it’s really not my fault. My subscription was up for renewal and when you renew your name is prominent on the front page, leading to a lot of offers. That’s what I keep telling myself 🙂

Although I haven’t been reading anything this past week, I am excited that I finally got the email that I have a book on hold at the library – Envy by Gregg Olsen. I am a huge Olsen fan, I’ve read all of his adult fiction books (none of his true crime books though, I really should read those too) and I was a little unsure when I saw he had taken a step into the YA realm, but after seeing what the book blurb was, I immediately put myself on the waitlist. I hope it lives up to the expectation I have of it.

Speaking of adult fiction authors who are all of a sudden dipping into the YA genre. I’ve been really kind of curious about this recent trend. While I know this could be an entire post by itself, I only want to briefly touch on it. Harlan Coben, Gregg Olsen, John Grisham (I believe), James Patterson, the list goes on and on. Oh and I think I saw where Philip Margolin is coming out with a YA book co-written by his daughter. I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why all these authors are expanding to the YA market. It’s not necessarily that I have an issue with it, I just don’t see why all of a sudden it seems to be the cool thing to do. I mean I’m guilty of reading Coben’s Shelter, which I loved. And obviously I’m going to be reading Gregg Olsen’s Envy. I’m just not sure I understand why these successful adult fiction authors are changing directions into YA. Obviously they’re not giving up their original genres completely (or at least I hope they’re not!). Are these books just that much easier to write? Is that why they’re starting to dip into that market? I know that the YA market is booming, but is it really doing that much better than the adult fiction market? Has anyone else wondered about this lately, or is it just me? I’m just kind of curious.

Well, I think that’s probably all that I have for you guys right now. I’m off to watch the Cardinals (who are up 4-0 in the 1st!! Although there’s still a lot of baseball to play). Hope everyone has a good up-coming week and happy reading!

Meme, On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist, October 15, 2011

Tara

This week I’m sharing a book that is set to be released in my all-time favorite series. I can’t wait! Set to be published on November 14th:

 The President’s son and daughter are abducted, and Detective Alex Cross is one of the first on the scene. But someone very high-up is using the FBI, Secret Service, and CIA to keep him off the case and in the dark.A deadly contagion in the water supply cripples half of the capital, and Alex discovers that someone may be about to unleash the most devastating attack the United States has ever experienced. As his window for solving both crimes narrows, Alex makes a desperate decision that goes against everything he believes–one that may alter the fate of the entire country. KILL ALEX CROSS is faster, more exciting, and more tightly wound than any Alex Cross thriller James Patterson has ever written!

Mailbox Monday, Meme

Mailbox Monday, October 10, 2011

Tara

Mailbox Mondays

Mailbox Monday is on tour, with October’s location being at Savvy Verse & Wit.

Only one book this week, but a good one that I’m looking forward to!

     The world changes for Ethan Gage – one time assistant to the renowned Ben Franklin – on a night in post-revolutionary Paris, when he wins a mysterious medallion in a card game. Framed soon after for the murder of a prostitute and facing the grim prospect of either prison or death, the young expatriate American barely escapes France with his life – choosing instead to accompany the new emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, on his glorious mission to conquer Egypt. With Lord Nelson’s fleet following close behind, Gage sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. And in a land of ancient wonder and mystery, with the help of a beautiful Macedonian slave, he will come to realize that the unusual prize he won at the gaming table may be the key to solving one of history’s greatest and most perilous riddles: who built the Great Pyramids … and why?

3.5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, O, RATING, Read in 2011, READING CHALLENGES 2011, SERIES

2011.59 REVIEW – The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Tara

The Keeper of Lost Causes
by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Translated by: Lisa Hartford

Copyright: 2011
Pages: 395
Rating: 3.5/5
Read: Oct. 3– Oct. 8, 2011
Challenge: TwentyEleven Challenge
Yearly Count: 59
Format: Print
Source: Library Copy

Blurb: The Keeper of Lost Causes, the first installment of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s international bestselling Department Q series, features the deeply flawed chief detective Carl Mørck, who used to be a good homicide detective – one of Copenhagen’s best. Then a bullet almost took his life. Two of his colleagues weren’t so lucky, and Carol, who didn’t draw his weapon, blames himself.

So a promotion is the last thing Carl expects.

But it all becomes clear when he sees his new office in the basement. Carl’s been selected to run Department Q, a new special investigation division that turns out to be a department of one. With a stack of Copenhagen’s coldest cases to keep him company, Carol has been put out to pasture. So he’s as surprised as anyone when a case actually captures his interest. A politician vanished without a trace five years earlier. The world assumes she’s dead. His colleagues snicker abou the time he’s wasting. But Carl may have the last laugh, and redeem himself in the process.

Because she isn’t dead … yet.

Review: I’m honestly torn on how to rate this book. I’m not really sure where to begin, so I’ll just start from the beginning and work my way to the end (with as few spoilers as possible, of course).

This book alternates between the perspective of Merete Lynggaard, the politician who disappeared and everyone assumes is dead, and Carl Mørck, a detective who has survivor’s guilt after being involved in a shooting where his two colleagues weren’t as lucky as he was. I must say that when I first met Carl, I was not impressed. I wanted to shake him and say, “snap out of it!” But at the same time, I understood why he was feeling like he was … one of his colleagues lost his life and the other one is permanently paralyzed after a shooting in which Carl didn’t even pull his gun. But his attitude is not very likeable and I struggled with that throughout the entire book.

The next thing Carl knows he’s getting a promotion! That would definitely be the last thing anyone would expect, but they put him in the basement with Assad as his assistant. Now, let me just say that I loved Assad’s character. There was so much to him that was so surprising! He’s definitely a good match with Carl … it was really Assad’s interest that got Carl’s interest going in the Merete Lynggaard disappearance. And as Carl continues to dig deeper (while looking like he’s not doing anything) he realizes that there’s something not quite right about the case.

So now I’m to the point where I need to explain why I’m so torn on my opinion of this book. First of all, I didn’t like Carl’s character. Not one bit. He’s a jerk, plain and simple. He doesn’t care about his job anymore. He has a major beef with one of the detectives upstairs. He practically blackmailed his superiors because he knows how much money his new department has been allocated … and he knows that his department isn’t seeing all that money. He’s just not a nice guy.

But then there’s Assad. He’s a very likeable guy. He’s intriguing because we don’t really know anything about him. Carl doesn’t even believe him when he tells him he’s from Syria; Carl thinks he might be from Iraq. He’s definitely not who he says he is, that much is very clear. And he’s not doing what Carl thinks he’s doing when he sends him up to talk to Hardy, Carl’s paralyzed colleague. But then again, it’s really Assad who pushes Carl to work hard on this case. It’s Assad who gets him interested. It’s Assad who really comes up with some great ideas to work the case with.

So I guess the next logical question would be: will I read more in this series? I’m honestly torn. I’m not sure I could stand another book of Carl’s attitude. But at the same time, I would love to know more about Assad and who he really is. Overall, I put this book at a 3.5 rating, which is somewhere between good and really good. If I had liked Carl’s character just a little bit more, I could have given it a 4, but I just can’t bring myself to do that. I think I could recommend this book to other readers, but I don’t think it would be a good fit for everybody.

Sunday Wrap-Up

Sunday Wrap-Up, October 9, 2011

Tara

Wow, what a week it has been here in our household. As those of you who follow my blog already know, Nathan had his gallbladder taken out on Tuesday. Let me just start by saying that I hope I never have to go through that, because I don’t think I would survive it. I’m too big of a baby!! So I stayed home all week taking care of him. This included waking up every 4 hours throughout the night the first few nights to give him his pain medication. And of course this was not an easy take the pill and go back to sleep deal. No, he had to eat something when he took the pill to keep the nausea at bay. So it was about a 30 minute deal every time. It wasn’t the end of the world, but I sure was glad to get a full night’s sleep on Friday night.

Needless to say, I haven’t gotten very much reading done this week. He has needed help getting up and down, to the bathroom and back, and the first night he couldn’t even lift his arm to feed himself. Apparently when you have your gallbladder taken out  laparoscopically, they pump you full of gas to expand things so they can see and this gas will eventually travel up your arm and settle in your shoulder, causing quite a bit of shoulder pain. So he had to deal with that and his stomach area where the actual incisions were made.

Like I said, it’s been a fun week 🙂 Here’s to hoping next week is better! He thinks he’s going to be able to go into work, but I highly doubt that. However, I can’t stay home another week, so at least he’s at a spot in his recovery where he doesn’t need 24/7 care.

So here’s what (little) happened here on the blog this week:

And I posted one review:

Meme, On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist, October 8, 2011

Tara

Well it’s been a long time since I participated in this meme. But I’ve got a couple of new books on my wishlist, so I will be participating the next few weeks, spotlighting one book each week. For this week ,it’s a book that was published on October 3rd and that I first found through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Program (Here’s to hoping I win this book!!)

 From LibraryThing: When he resigned last June, Justice Stevens was the third longest serving Justice in American history (1975-2010)—only Justice William O. Douglas, whom Stevens succeeded, and Stephen Field have served on the Court for a longer time.

In Five Chiefs, Justice Stevens captures the inner workings of the Supreme Court via his personal experiences with the five Chief Justices—Fred Vinson, Earl Warren, Warren Burger, William Rehnquist, and John Roberts—that he interacted with. He reminisces of being a law clerk during Vinson’s tenure; a practicing lawyer for Warren; a circuit judge and junior justice for Burger; a contemporary colleague of Rehnquist; and a colleague of current Chief Justice John Roberts. Along the way, he will discuss his views of some the most significant cases that have been decided by the Court from Vinson, who became Chief Justice in 1946 when Truman was President, to Roberts, who became Chief Justice in 2005.

Packed with interesting anecdotes and stories about the Court, Five Chiefs is an unprecedented and historically significant look at the highest court in the United States

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, Fiction, RATING, Read in 2011, READING CHALLENGES 2011, Scot Harvath, SERIES, T

2011.58 REVIEW – State of the Union by Brad Thor

Tara

State of the Union
by Brad Thor

Copyright: 2004
Pages: 523
Rating: 4/5
Read: Sept. 25– Oct. 2, 2011
Challenge: Take a Chance 3 Challenge
Yearly Count: 58
Format: Print
Source: Personal Copy

Blurb: With the fragile peace between the world’s nations shattered, Harvath must unravel a brilliantly orchestrated, fiendishly timed conspiracy intent upon bringing the United States to its knees. Teamed with beautiful Russian Intelligence agent Alexandra Ivanova and a highly trained CIA paramilitary detachment, Harvath races from the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., to the streets of Berlin, the coast of Finland, and into the heart of Mother Russia herself before returning home for a final showdown with an enemy from America’s past more sinister and deadly than has even been seen before…

Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! Having liked the previous book (Path of the Assassin), but not really enjoying the whole Middle Eastern theme involved, I was really excited to read about Cold War-era Russian spies. For me, that’s more up my alley than the what the previous book dealt with. This book was definitely action packed. Scot Harvath manages to find himself in all kinds of trouble, no matter where he goes, it seems! And his sense of loyalty to those closest to him is amazing, he definitely puts himself in harm’s way for his friend, mentor  and boss, Gary Lawlor. I am definitely enjoying this series. We didn’t get to see a lot of Meg in this installment, but hopefully in the next book we will get to learn more about her and Scot and where they go to.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Might be quiet for a couple of days…

Tara

So today is D-Day for the husband. He’s getting his gallbladder out today. That means that I will be playing nurse for a few days. So it’s doubtful that I will be reading very much or have much time on the internet. It all depends on how big of a baby he turns out to be 🙂 See y’all in a couple of days!!